Connecticut added just 300 jobs in November, according to the Connecticut Department of Labor (DOL).
The unemployment rate dropped to 8.8 percent from 9 percent month-to-month but increased 0.5 percentage points year-over-year, seasonally adjusted.
The largest gains continued to come from the education and health services sector, adding 9,400 jobs, while government and financial agencies shed 3,200 and 3,000 jobs respectively.
“November”™s job and unemployment numbers are encouraging, especially in the light of the challenges that Hurricane Sandy brought,” said Andy Condon, director of the Connecticut DOL Office of Research, in a press release. “However, the continuing trend of civilian labor force decline driven primarily by previously working individuals causes concern that we are seeing a fundamental shift in the demographics of Connecticut”™s workforce. We will be watching carefully to see if this trend continues or is a temporary movement.”
Roughly 34,900 fewer people were included in the civilian workforce year-over-year and compared to last month, 11,100 fewer people were included, which is the largest monthly decline since 1976 when electronic records began.
